Tag: sorrow

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Merciful God,
On this day, Ash Wednesday, we mark the beginning of the season of Lent. Today especially, we are reminded of the inseparable bond sin and death share. Sinners cannot escape death. I, therefore, cannot escape death. What I can do, though, and need to do daily, is confess my sins that lead to death. Lent is not a season of self-help, but a penitential season of helplessness. Grant me a humble and contrite heart, and create in me a renewed spirit as I prepare once again to see the Savior’s steps toward his ultimate sacrifice for all, including me. Only at the cross was the eternal bond between sin and death broken, so that now, in Christ, even though I die, I live. Eternally. With you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Willing to Own My Wrongs

Patient Lord,
It’s not easy to admit when I’ve been in the wrong. What is easy is getting defensive when someone points out my faults, accuses me of sin, or implies that I should have handled a matter differently. When these situations arise, so does my pride, which gets stirred up whenever it senses my reputation is in question. I then seek to defend, excuse, justify, blame, and even flat out deny the possibility of any error or wrongdoing on my part.

Instead, lead me to swap out my pride for a humble spirit that seeks first to understand the matter. Then, let me be willing to admit fault and own whatever wrong is mine to own. Finally, never let me shy away from an opportunity to apologize, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Rather than being so self-assured and confident of my own self-righteousness, grant me the self-awareness and willingness to first review my own thoughts, words, and actions with a measure of skepticism. Cause me to be open to analyzing my role from the perspective of what I could have done or said differently to avoid things ending up the way they did. Let me be so confident of your grace and forgiveness, that I never have to deceive myself or others into thinking that I am not in need of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Help Me Repent Rightly (Part 3)

Suffering Savior,
Since one of the themes of the lenten season is repentance, help me to repent rightly. When the law accuses and convicts me of my sin, I respond in genuine contrition, taking full responsibility for my sin. The gospel then directs me to the sweet comfort and assurance of forgiveness that are mine through Jesus Christ. Finally, repentance shows itself by the fruit that follows.

When I have wronged or harmed others, my repentant heart yearns to do what I can to make it right. While such actions on my part have no bearing on my forgiveness, which was won fully and freely by Christ, they do serve my neighbor affected by my sin. Moreover, right repentance never sees forgiveness as permission to carelessly fall back into my sin without fear, but rather the freedom from being enslaved by that sin and the motivation to press on to overcome it. So I ask you, Lord, not only to work in me the awareness of my sin and the assurance of my forgiveness, but also the awakening of my freedom from sin’s chains, which empowers me to live a changed man. In your grace, work this kind of right repentance in me.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Help Me Repent Rightly (Part 2)

Suffering Savior,
Since one of the themes of the lenten season is repentance, help me to repent rightly. Repentance includes contrition, which is much more than just mouthing the words, “I’m sorry.” But it also involves much more than just feeling sorry or being weighed down by our guilt. We aren’t seeking to impress God by wallowing in the guilt and shame of our sin. Repentance doesn’t conclude with contrition; rather, that is just the beginning.

Repenting rightly means turning toward you, Lord, and laying our sin – along with all its accompanying guilt and shame – at the foot of the cross. Then, in faith we look up to you and see the price you paid to ensure our sin has been paid for in full. Yes, repentance includes embracing our forgiveness and trusting that you do not and will not ever hold our sin against us! This is the joy of repentance, and it allows us to confess and own our sins – because you owned the consequences and condemnation of our sin for us. Let us never tire of turning from our sin toward you, our Savior, in daily repentance.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Help Me Repent Rightly (Part 1)

Suffering Savior,
Since one of the themes of the lenten season is repentance, help me to repent rightly. While my sins are ultimately a rebellion against you, they often involve others, too. It is one thing to express contrition to you, but can sometimes be very difficult to do so to the people I’ve hurt or wronged by my sin. “I’m sorry” can be among the most hardest words to speak. I have become quite adept at the “unapologetic apology,” which is crafted to sound like an apology without actually taking any ownership of the sin I committed.

Let my repentance include genuine contrition, which is much more than simply being sorry someone else was impacted or sorry that I got caught. No, let my own wrongful sin be the source of my contrition, and free me from the need to attach excuses or justifications to my apologies. Instead, guide me to clearly confess the sin I committed, and when I speak the words “I’m sorry” to you and others, Lord, may they always carry the weight of my genuine contrition. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.